Unfortunately, your vagina did not exactly come with a programmed owner’s manual; however after decades of monthly menstrual flow, seeing a gynecologist, having sex and child birth, you should know your vagina more than any other person.
Vaginal health is an important part of a woman's overall health. Vaginal problems can affect your health and wellness in the following way:
- 1. Fertility
2. Desire for sex (Libido) and ability to reach orgasm
3. Overall health, systemic disease
4. Ongoing vaginal health issues can also cause stress or relationship problems
5. Your self-confidence
Anatomical Location
The vagina is a closed muscular canal that extends from the vulva (the outside of the female genital area) to the neck of the uterus (cervix).
What Factors Affect your Vaginal Health?
These include:
1. Sex: Unprotected sex can result in a sexually transmitted infection. Forceful, unsolicited sex or an injury to the pelvic area can result in vaginal trauma, which can affect the optimal functioning of the vagina.
2. Certain health conditions or treatments: These Conditions, such as endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease, might cause painful sex, and can subsequently affect the efficiency and optimal function of the vagina
3. Scarring from pelvic surgery and certain cancer treatments also can cause painful sex
4. Use of some antibiotics increases the risk of a vaginal yeast infection
5.Birth control. Barrier contraceptives, such as condoms, diaphragms and associated spermicide, can cause vaginal irritation
6. Infections after childbirth or using a tampon for longer than 8 hours can increase the risk of toxic shock syndrome a rare, life-threatening complication of a bacterial infection.
7. Feminine-hygiene products: Used for douching can affect the health of the vagina
8. Pregnancy and childbirth. If you become pregnant, you'll stop menstruating until after your baby is born. During pregnancy, vaginal discharge often increases
9. Vaginal tears are relatively common during childbirth. In some cases, an episiotomy, an incision made in the tissue between the vaginal opening and anus during childbirth, is needed
10. A vaginal delivery also can decrease muscle tone in the vagina
11. Psychological issues. Anxiety and depression can contribute to a low level of arousal and resulting discomfort or pain during sex
12. Trauma, such as sexual abuse or an initial painful sexual experience, also can lead to pain associated with sex
13. Hormone levels. Changes in your hormone levels can affect your vagina. For example, estrogen production declines after menopause and during breast-feeding. Loss of estrogen can cause the vaginal lining to thin (vaginal atrophy) making sex painful.
What are the most common vaginal problems?
1. Sexual problems. These might include persistent or recurrent pain just before, during or after sex (dyspareunia). Pain during penetration might be caused by involuntary spasms of the muscles of the vaginal wall (vaginismus). Low libido, poor or non -existing orgasms.
2. Sexually transmitted infections. Various sexually transmitted infections can affect the vagina, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital warts, syphilis and genital herpes. Signs might include abnormal vaginal discharge or genital sores.
3. Vaginitis. An infection or change in the normal balance of vaginal yeast and bacteria can cause inflammation of the vagina (vaginitis). Symptoms include vaginal discharge, odor, itching and pain. Common types of vaginitis include bacterial vaginosis, yeast infections and trichomoniasis.
4. Pelvic floor relaxation. If the supporting ligaments and connective tissues that hold the uterus in place become weak, the uterus, bladder or rectum might slip down into the vagina (prolapse). As a result, the vagina also is pulled down. This might cause urine leakage during coughing and sneezing
5. Vaginal cysts can cause pain during sex or make it difficult to insert a tampon
6. Vaginal cancer , which might first appear as vaginal bleeding after menopause or sex also is a rare possibility.